Improving Road Safety
in the OIC Member States
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In 2015, CNPAC had a budget of 125 million dirham for its program of road safety education and
campaigns.
Since the introduction of PSIU I, Morocco has targeted a goal of an annual 5% reduction in fatal
crashes. From the statistics it is evident that this target has not been met (especially if measured
over the longer term). A number of policy reviews have been conducted but these show that the
effect of implemented initiatives on (fatal) crashes is limited and certainly not sustained.
Although a general strategic direction is evident, the goals are general in nature and therefore
difficult to effectively monitor and evaluate, especially in terms of effect on the number of
crashes.
Making any necessary adjustments to interventions and institutional outputs does not routinely
take place at the present time. Annual road crash statistics are produced by the Department of
Roads and Road Traffic but these are no more than general statistics and are not evaluations of
policy directives or strategic initiatives. Investments into road safety are not routinely assessed
in terms of their benefits nor is there a clear understanding of what the effects of the various
road safety initiatives are.
Legislation governing road safety
Road safety is legislated under the 52-05 law.
The most important legislative changes affecting road safety were introduced through the
adoption of the (January 17) 2005 decree related to traffic law enforcement which established:
 Compulsory wearing of seat belts (front and back) in all vehicles with a maximum loaded
weight of 3.5 ton;
 Prohibits the use of hand held mobile phones during driving;
 Prohibits children less than 10 years old to sit in the front seats of passenger cars;
 Makes it compulsory for passenger transport vehicles with more than 15 seats and heavy
goods vehicles with a carrying capacity exceeding 8 ton, to be equipped with at least ABS and
decelerators and speed limiters.
Morocco also has laws governing the use of public roads (signing and rules of the road), the use
of vehicles on public roads, driver licencing and testing, wearing of helmets in traffic and drink
driving. In addition, a new Highway Code was adopted in October 2010 which introduced
stricter controls and penalties for traffic offenders. The penalty points system was introduced
in the new law and the possibility to imprison certain traffic offenders was introduced. The law
facilitates the provision and use of automated speed enforcement camera’s, new equipment and
infrastructure for enforcement personnel etc. Although the Code brought about significant
changes to road safety management and had a marked effect on road crashes and fatalities, the
effect was short term and as a result some amendments have now been proposed to the code
including making it possible to fine offending pedestrians and imprisoning the party guilty of a
crash.